1980 in Turkey

Events in the year 1980 in Turkey.^[1]

Centuries:

20th
21st

Decades:

Parliament

16th Parliament of Turkey (up to 12 September)

Incumbents

President –

Fahri Korutürk (up to 6 April)

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil (acting, 6 April – 12 September)

Kenan Evren (from 12 September)

Prime Minister –

Süleyman Demirel (up to 12 September)

Bülent Ulusu (from 20 September)

Leader of the opposition –

Bülent Ecevit (up to 12 September)

Ruling party and the main opposition

Ruling party

Justice Party (AP) (up to 12 September)

Main opposition

Republican People's Party (CHP) (up to 12 September)

Cabinet

43rd government of Turkey (up to 12 September)
44th government of Turkey (from 21 September)

Events

January

2 January – Military leaders issue a warning letter about terrorism.^[2]

February

2 February – DİSK initiates a general strike.^[2]

April

18 April – Turkey signs a nuclear nonproliferation accord.^[2]

May

25 May – Trabzonspor wins the championship^[3]

July

1 July – Turkey signs an association agreement with the European Community.^[2]
19 July – Former Premier Nihat Erim killed by terrorists.^[2]

August

5 August – Hazal by Ali Özgentürk wins the Grand Prix in France.
6 August – Armenian terrorists attack the Turkish Consulate in Lyon.

September

12 September – 1980 Turkish coup d'état.^[2]
Following the military coup of 1980, the Kurdish language was officially prohibited in public and private life. Many people who spoke, published, or sang in Kurdish were arrested and imprisoned.

October

11 October – Census (Population: 44,736,947)
15 October – NSP chairman Erbakan and 21 party members arrested for acting against secular principles of the republic.^[2]
27 October – Work begins on a new constitution.^[2]
30 October – Bülent Ecevit resigns from CHP for its passivity during the coup.

Births

1 January – Nurcan Çelik, footballer (d. 2026)
4 February – Gündüz Gürol Azer, footballer
7 March – Murat Boz, singer and actor
12 April – Arda Kural, actor
16 June – Nehir Erdoğan, actress
29 September – Ümit Şamiloğlu, artistic gymnast
14 October – Cansu Dere, actress

Deaths

11 April – Ümit Kaftancıoğlu (born 1935), TV producer (assassinated)
18 May – Gündüz Kılıç (born 1918), football coach
21 June – Feridun Cemal Erkin (born 1899), diplomat and politician
19 July – Nihat Erim (born 1912), former prime minister (33rd and 34th government of Turkey, assassinated)
22 July – Kemal Türkler (born 1926), trade union leader (assassinated)
27 June – Ahmet Muhip Dıranas (born 1909), poet and author
30 November – Orhan Eyüpoğlu (born 1918), politician

Gallery

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil
Kenan Evren
Süleyman Demirel
Bülent Ecevit
Sibel Kekilli
Nihat Erim